Bath get back to winning ways in Leeds

Bath Rugby got their Guinness Premiership campaign back on track at Headingly on Sunday securing a four-try bonus point win over Leeds Carnegie in a 15-34 away victory.

From the opening minutes of the match, Bath put pressure on Leeds nearly scoring from a scrum near the home side's try-line only for the ball to be scrambled away into touch. Scoring proceedings then opened in the 7th minute with Olly Barkley slotting home a penalty.

Bath continued their attacking impetus and not for the first time in the match, Joe Maddock proved a handful on the wing getting taken into touch meters from the try-line.

Leeds first real attack was only thwarted thanks to some excellent covering by Barkley who read a Leeds chip and chase and collected the ball before going to ground and, after the ball was recycled, allowing Abendanon to clear into touch.

Baths' first try came through Maddock thanks to a Jonny Faamatuainu break and quick recycled ball through hands that culminated in the winger scoring in the right hand corner. Barkley added the conversion.

Bath and Leeds then traded penalty kicks with Barkley and then Leigh Hinton scoring their respective kicks at goal. Just before the break Bath continued to press the Leeds defence with the forwards nearly turning the screw on the Leeds pack on a few occasions and the backs being unlucky not to capitalize on a charged down kick within Leeds' own try area. Bath went into the break 3-13 up.

The emergence of the sun in the second initially seemed to signal a change in fortunes for the home side. A good break from Carnegie's Jonny Hepworth saw the centre manage to suck in the last defender before firing a pass out to the dangerous Fijian winger Apo Satala who scored in the left hand corner. The conversion was missed.

The pendulum then swung back in favor of the visitors and more Bath pressure saw one attack resulting in the ball being held up over the line before a Bath scrum utilised its power to push over the try line with Danny Grewcock emerging as the try scorer. Barkley hit the conversion.

Six minutes later and once again, despite some fearsome defence repelling Bath's efforts out wide, the forwards were the source of Bath's points - this time flanker Jonny Faamatuainu touched the ball down. Barkley continued his fine kicking display with another successful conversion.

In the 71st minute Leeds' danger man Satala was on hand again for the home team. Good work in midfield by insider centre Andy Tuilagi culminated in Satala racing down the right hand side of the pitch and just grounding the ball before the Bath defenders could bundle him into touch. Carnegie substitute Alberto Di Bernardo hit the conversion.

After a number of substitutions, Bath then wrapped up the game and claimed a bonus point after more pressure on the Leeds defence told and winger Matt Banahan went over in the corner. Barkley hit the conversion and ended the game with a 100% kicking record.